EditZelenskyy warns that those who will attend Moscow’s 9 May parade risk their security
The caution comes as Russia prepares to host a significant number of foreign leaders for the celebration
On 2 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that foreign leaders attending Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May risk their security, as Ukraine cannot guarantee their safety.
As reported by Censor.NET via Interfax-Ukraine, Zelenskyy told journalists, “Ukraine cannot guarantee other countries the safety of their representatives during their planned trips to Moscow for the 9 May parade, as the Russian side can independently take any actions against the guests and shift the blame for this to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian side, in turn, cannot be responsible for what is happening in the Russian Federation.”
Zelenskyy’s caution comes as Russia prepares to host a significant number of foreign leaders for the parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, defying European Union warnings, has confirmed his attendance, viewing the event as a tribute to the defeat of fascism. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, representing another EU candidate nation, has similarly accepted the invitation, despite concerns that his participation could hinder Serbia’s EU accession prospects. Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an EU candidate country, will also join, aligning with his pro-Russia stance. Notably, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, initially speculated to attend, declined on April 17, likely to avoid further straining ties with Brussels.
Beyond the EU’s orbit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will attend, a decision reflecting Armenia’s delicate balancing act between Russia and the West following tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to be a centerpiece guest, underscoring the robust Russia-China partnership. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has confirmed his presence, marking the 65th anniversary of Russia-Cuba diplomatic ties. Leaders from Brazil, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Palestine, and Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—are also expected, alongside representatives from Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Abkhazia. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s attendance remains uncertain due to logistical challenges, despite speculation fueled by Russia-North Korea military ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, initially invited, will not attend due to escalating tensions with Pakistan, as confirmed by the Kremlin on 1 May.
Zelenskyy’s warning coincides with a rejection of Moscow’s proposed ceasefire for the parade, which he dismissed as a ploy to soften President Vladimir Putin’s international image amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The statement follows a deadly Russian missile strike in Sumy that killed 34 people, highlighting the conflict’s brutality.
Commentators have called the Putin ceasefire a “cynical attempt” to shield the parade from Ukrainian drones, which could embarrass Putin in front of foreign guests. Ukraine’s military advancements, including long-range drone strikes on Russian soil, have strained Russia’s air defenses, with reports of 119 Ukrainian drones downed in a single night in April 2025. The Kremlin’s fear of a disrupted parade, coupled with past ceasefire violations—such as the Easter 2025 truce, which Ukraine reported was breached with 2,900 attacks—lends credence to the idea that Putin’s proposal is less about peace and more about securing a propaganda victory.
Ukraine has demonstrated the capability to strike targets deep within Russia, including the potential to reach Red Square in Moscow. In May 2023, a Ukrainian drone was intercepted above the Kremlin, proving Kyiv’s ability to deploy long-range drones over 600 km from Ukraine’s border. Recent advancements, including a March 2025 test of a drone traveling 3,000 km and strikes on Russian infrastructure like a Krasnodar refinery, further confirm Ukraine’s capacity to target Moscow. While Red Square is heavily defended by Russia’s air defence systems, Ukraine’s growing arsenal of sophisticated drones could pose a threat, especially if launched in coordinated waves to overwhelm defences.
Zelenskyy’s warning about the security risks for leaders attending Russia’s 9 May Victory Day parade could be interpreted as grounded in Russia’s history of covert operations designed to shift blame. The Kremlin has a well-documented record of staging provocations, such as the 1999 apartment bombings attributed to Chechen militants but widely suspected to involve Russian intelligence, and false-flag attacks in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014 to justify intervention. Zelenskyy’s concern that Russia could orchestrate an incident during the parade and pin it on Ukraine reflects this pattern, especially given the high-profile presence of leaders like China’s Xi Jinping, which could amplify the propaganda value of such a stunt.
Caption: Russian military vehicles take part in a rehearsal for the annual military parade ahead of the Victory Day celebrations, in downtown Moscow, Russia, 29 April 2025. [EPA-EFE/MAXIM SHIPENKOV]
Updated: May 3, 2025 - 11:02
